Spa treatment becoming less affordable for Czechs

For many years getting spa treatment covered by the state was one of the
benefits afforded by health sector and all one needed to do was ask one’s
doctor, citing a real or imaginary problem that a month of pampering at one
of the country’s famous spas would put right. Since the 1990s a gradual
overhaul of the health sector has made it increasingly difficult to avail
oneself of this luxury and a new directive introduced as of October 1st has
drawn a sharp line between those who really need spa treatment and those
who are just there for the pampering.

Photo: CzechTourism
Taking the waters in Karlovy Vary, a mud bath in Luhačovice or so-called
Scottish Jets at Mariánské Lázně – a rather drastic procedure where
one is alternately sprayed with hot and cold jets of water – was a
popular form of well-being therapy for people over 30 in the past. In fact
men and women alike regarded it as their own private holiday – an escape
from household chores, no arguments with family members and sometimes even
a short romantic fling. That world has gradually disappeared and an ongoing
restructuring of the health sector means a free holiday is no longer yours
for the asking.

The number of spa treatments recommended by doctors –and thereby covered
by health insurance companies – have halved since 2010. Now the
introduction of a new directive will make spa treatment an even bigger
luxury. According to the new rules the length of spa treatment paid for by
insurance companies will be reduced from 4 to 3 weeks. Spa treatment will
only be available once in two years and for some health problems that have
been treated in spas in the past they will not be available at all. Many
older Czechs are groaning, but deputy health minister Ferdinand Polák says
this is not withholding proper care to those who need it.

The tighter net is expected to save more than half a billion crowns
annually and it is not only patients who feel hard-done-by. The country’s
large network of spas which offers a cure for numerous ailments will be
hard hit and spas which have not branched out into wellness services may be
in big trouble. The president of the Association of Czech Spas Eduard
Bláha says the last two years have been increasingly difficult.

“We have all gradually been laying off staff and there are some spas
that have had problems paying their employees’ wages.”

Karlovy Vary, photo: archive of CRo 7 - Radio Prague
The country’s best-known spas such as Karlovy Vary or Mariánské
Lázně are safe largely because they expanded their services years ago
taking paying clients from abroad. In the past decade they have become
increasingly popular with German and Russian tourists but also with clients
from Austria, the Scandinavian countries, Israel, the US, and Canada. The
smaller and less well-known spas will have to rethink their philosophy and
in addition to treating insurance-covered patients they will need to expand
their services to the locals at an affordable price. Many are now offering
a weekend of pampering to overworked managers and week-long spa treatments
tailored to an aging population. But since the former have little time and
the latter little money the future for many struggling spas looks
increasingly bleak.